Curcuma plant named ‘Curdossimp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Curcuma plant named ‘Curdossimp’, characterized by its upright plant habit with outwardly arching leaves; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely clumping growth habit; leaves with dark greyed orange-colored midveins; freely flowering habit; and large dense inflorescences with red purple-colored upper flower bracts positioned above the foliar plane on strung and erect peduncles.

Botanical designation: Curcuma alismatifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CURDOSSIMP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Curcuma plant, botanically known as Curcuma alismatifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Curdossimp’.

The new Curcuma plant is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Curcuma plants that have uniform plant habit, good container performance and attractive inflorescence coloration.

The new Curcuma is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Curdossi’, not patented. The new Curcuma plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of ‘Curdossi’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Curcuma plant by axillary bud meristem culture in a controlled environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands since July, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Curcuma plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Curcuma have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Curdossimp’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Curdossimp’ as a new and distinct Curcuma plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit with outwardly arching leaves.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely clumping growth habit.     -   4. Leaves with dark greyed orange-colored midveins.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large dense inflorescences with red purple-colored upper         flower bracts positioned above the foliar plane on strong and         erect peduncles.

Plants of the new Curcuma differ from plants of the mutation plant, ‘Curdossi’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Curcuma have more upper flower bracts as         plants of ‘Curdossi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Curcuma have red purple-colored upper         flower bracts whereas plants of ‘Curdossi’ have medium         purple-colorcd upper flower bracts.

Plants of the new Curcuma can also be compared to plants of Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Curalimei’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,124. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Curcuma differ from plants of ‘Curalimei’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Curcuma are taller than plants of         ‘Curalimei’.     -   2. Plants of the new Curcuma are not as freely clumping as         plants of ‘Curalimei’.     -   3. Plants of the new Curcuma have broader leaves than plants of         ‘Curalimei’.     -   4. Plants of the new Curcuma have red purple-colored upper         flower bracts whereas plants of ‘Curalimei’ have dark         pink-colored flower bracts with dark red purple-colored apices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Curcuma plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Curcuma plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Curdossimp’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a leaf of ‘Curdossimp’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Curdossimp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Curcuma production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 22° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 55 kilolux. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Curdossimp’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Curcuma     alismatifolia ‘Curdossi’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By axillary bud meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at temperatures about             23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 28 to 30 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit with outwardly             arching leaves; overall shape, obovate; freely clumping             habit with about seven basal shoots forming per plant;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height (soil level to top of foliar plane).—About 62.5             cm.         -   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences).—About             79.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 77 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length, fully expanded.—About 77.5 cm.         -   Width, fully expanded.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Sheathing.         -   Margin.—Entire; unlobed.         -   Venation.—Parallel.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright, then outwardly arching.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; non-rugose; matte.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 138B and             146D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A to             137B; midvein, close to 166A; secondary venation, close to             143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between             137C and 138A; venation, close to between 137C and 138A.         -   Leaf sheaths.—Length: About 20 cm. Width: About 1 cm.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144B;             margins, close to 157D; venation, close to 144A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 144A; margins, close to 157D;             venation, close to 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Dense and upright terminal spike inflorescences             developing directly from the basal shoots with numerous             showy upper flower bracts; typically each spike with about             ten clusters each with about three flowers; about 60 flowers             developing per plant at one time.         -   Time to flower.—In The Ncthcrlands, plants flower from             summer into autumn; flowering continuous during this period;             plants begin flowering about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about three days on the             plant; flowers persistent; plants maintain good substance             for about 40 days.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet and somewhat spicy.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Proximally, close to 155A; mid-section, close             to 158A to 158B; distally, close to N82A tinged with close             to 83B.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 14.7 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.6 cm.         -   Flowers.—Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm by             2.4 cm. Flower throat diameter: About 9 mm. Flower tube             length: About 2.5 cm. Flower tube diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Shape and arrangement: Zygomorphic with three petals,             conspicuous labellum and two lateral corolla lobes             (staminodia), fused towards the base; gamosepalous calyx             with three sepals.         -   Labellum.—Length: About 4.8 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape:             Narrowly spatulate; fused at the base. Apex: Praemorse.             Margins: Entire; slightly to moderately undulate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 83A fading towards the base to close to             83D; central narrow stripe, close to 14A; proximal dots             (two), close to 58C. When opening, lower surface: Close to             83A fading towards the base to close to 83C to 83D; central             band, close to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             83A to 83B fading towards the base to close to 83D; central             narrow stripe, close to 14A; proximal dots (two), close to             58C; venation, close to 83A; color becoming closer to 71A to             71B with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             83A to 83B fading towards the base to close to 83D; central             band, close to 155C; venation, close to N82B; color becoming             closer to 71A to 71B with development.         -   Lateral corolla lobes.—Length: About 4.7 cm. Width: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margins: Entire;             slightly to moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to. N82C fading             towards the base to close to 85D. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to N82C fading towards the base to             close to 85D; venation, close to N82B to N82C; color             becoming closer to 71A to 71B with development.         -   Petals.—Length, dorsal petal: About 4 cm. Length, lateral             petals: About 4.2 cm. Width, dorsal petal: About 1.1 cm.             Width, lateral petals: About 7 mm. Shape, dorsal petal:             Oblanceolate. Shape, lateral petals: Narrowly oblanceolate.             Apex, dorsal petal: Broadly acute. Apex, lateral petals:             Acute. Margins, all petals: Entire; not undulate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color, dorsal and lateral petals: When opening,             upper surface: Close to N82D fading towards the base to             close to NN155D. When opening, lower surface: Close to N82C             fading towards the base to close to NN155D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to N82D fading towards the base to             close to NN155D; venation, similar to lamina colors; color             does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N82C to N82D fading towards the base to             close to NN155D; venation, similar to lamina colors; color             does not change with development. Color, flower throat:             Close to NN155A; venation, close to NN155A. Color, flower             tube: Close to NN155A; venation, close to NN155A.         -   Calyx.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Quantity             of sepals and arrangement: Three in a single whorl; fused at             the base. Sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal width: About             4 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly obovate. Sepal apex: Acute.             Sepal base: Broadly cuneate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Sepal color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; distally,             close to N80D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to NN155D; distally, close to N80D.         -   Upper flower bracts.—Quantity: About nine upper bracts per             inflorescence. Length: About 7.8 cm. Width: About 5.2 cm.             Shape: Ovate, slightly carinate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 72B to 72C; distally, close to 197A to 197B;             venation, similar to lamina and distally, close to 197A to             197B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:. Close             to 72B to 72C; distally, close to between 197A and N199A;             venation, similar to lamina and distally, close to between             197A and N199A.         -   Lower flower bracts.—Quantity: About nine lower bracts per             inflorescence. Length: About 4.1 cm. Width: About 3.8 cm.             Shape: Broadly obovate to inverted reniform, strongly             concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire;             undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 146D to 147D             fading distally to close to 146A with blotch, close to 59C;             venation, similar to lamina. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 144B fading distally to close to             144A with blotch, close to 183A; venation, similar to             lamina.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 61.4 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 5° from vertical.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 144A fading proximally to close to 144B.         -   Stamens.—Quantity: Two per flower; fused. Filament length:             About 1.6 cm. Filament diameter: About 5 mm. Filament color:             Close to NN155C; distally tinged with close to 83C. Anther             length: About 8 mm. Anther width: About 1 mm. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155C.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             4 cm. Style length: About 3.8 cm. Style color: Close to             NN155D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Cupped.             Stigma color: Close to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 150D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Curcuma. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Curcuma have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to     Curcuma plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Curcuma have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Curcuma plant named ‘Curdossimp’ as illustrated and described. 